Honda adds bulk to SUV range with BR-V

Honda has second crack at seven-seater market with new BR-V SUV

What is it?

The Honda BR-V is the third and smallest SUV in Honda’s ranks, priced closely behind the HR-V and quite a long way off CR-V but interestingly the only one in this trio capable of buckling up seven people. I say only one because Honda’s Mobilio is being phased out due to some very uninspiring sales. So why will the BR-V triumph when using a similar template to the ill-fated Mobilio?

Honda admits that its existing customers are predominantly private owners and Honda’s limited success in capturing the fleet and rental market accelerated Mobilio’s demise. The Honda BR-V deviates from this path by ensuring a closer connection with Honda’s passenger cars through better materials and sexier design.

What’s it like?

A seven-seater SUV around R200 000 sounds like a lot of car for not so much money, especially when Honda names the now dated Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster as competitors. Now trying to sing the praises of a 7-seater to anyone without a car pool routine is exceptionally difficult but a small SUV with a 650-litre boot (once the third row has been tumbled) is a useful attribute we can all agree on. Once you’re done packing the CR-V, you’ll still have another 100-litres of boot space in the BR-V.

With a second row of seats that can slide forwards or backwards or split 60/40 and a third row that splits 50/50, you quickly lose count of the possible configurations. The packaging is closer to MPV in this respect with the SUV nametag derived from the slightly raised ride height – and because MPV brings up rather dull connotations.

Honda’s styling department deserve credit for putting some daylight between Mobilio and BR-V all the while having to comply with some rather boring metrics, particularly that third row of seating. A facsimile of Mobilio’s chassis dimensions except for one area where Honda BR-V is slightly wider to minimise body tilt and validate its passenger car likeness.

As the Honda BR-V goes on sale in South Africa, buyers will have a choice of three trim levels, one engine variant and two gearboxes. The 1.5-litre 4-cylinder mill still excels against a slate of new turbo charged 3-cylinders. Rated at 88kW and 145Nm, the engine is nippy (with two adults) and peak power at 6 600rpm has a familiar VTEC-of-old satisfaction. A new six-speed manual was the only one we drove with other models fitted with the latest evolution of CVT with gearshift paddles there to imitate faux control over ratios.

The Comfort Model with generous specification minus the features you can happily live without is expected to be the best seller. Trend still includes aircon, USB, Bluetooth while Comfort adds an automatic climate control unit and alloy wheels as the items we care about and the top Elegance model lures buyers with leather finishes and keyless entry.

Should I buy one?

Look around and you won’t find the BR-V’s space without taking a dive in quality, design and newness. With so few competitors and strength in practicality that will prove itself when you least expect it, Honda BR-V has done well to beautify a traditionally dull and niche segment.

Pricing:

Honda BR-V 1.5 Trend Manual R238 900
Honda BR-V 1.5 Comfort Manual R252 900
Honda BR-V 1.5 Comfort CVT R268 300
Honda BR-V 1.5 Elegance Manual R272 900
Honda BR-V 1.5 Elegance CVT R288 300